WA legislator to give update at Tri-Cities weekend town hall
Curious what lawmakers in Olympia are cooking up for the 2026 legislative session?
State Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, will host a town hall Saturday, Feb. 21, at Columbia Basin College to update Tri-City residents about the ongoing session, to discuss key issue affecting the region and to take questions.
The 10 a.m. event is free to the public. It will be in Room 121 in the Social Sciences and World Languages building on Pasco campus.
“I always appreciate the chance to sit down with people from our district and have a real conversation,” Boehnke said in a statement. “These town halls are about listening as much as talking. I want to hear what’s on your mind and share what’s happening in Olympia that could affect your family and our community.”
Attendees may submit questions in advance, if they prefer, by emailing the state senator personally at matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov.
Boehnke serves as ranking member on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, and also works in the Higher Education and Workforce Development, Ways and Means, and Rules committees.
Tuesday was the final day for the Legislature to pass bills out of their house of origin, and March 12 is the last day of the session.
Boehnke is the primary sponsor of several bills still alive that would put more scholarship money in students’ pockets, incentivize in-state green fertilizer production, and limit eminent domain on certain agriculture land.
The 8th Legislative District is represented by Boehnke in the state Senate, as well as Reps. April Connors, R-Kennewick, and Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, in the state House of Representatives.
Tri-City residents are also represented by lawmakers in the 16th (Richland, West Richland, north Pasco) and 14th districts (Pasco, east Pasco, Finley).
In recent weeks, Boehnke announced plans to run for Congress. He hopes to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, the Sunnyside Republican and hops farmer.
Boehnke spent more than two decades in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot, and focused his later career on cybersecurity and education.
This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 1:31 PM.
